Am I A Good Candidate For Rib Removal Waist Reduction Surgery?

Q: Dr. Eppley, Hi, I want a consultation for waist reduction please. I have flared protruded rib on the left side and short torso. Thank you.

A: Thank you for your inquiry and sending your pictures. Waist reduction is a general term that includes conventional primary procedures of ljposuction and tummy tucks as well as the less commonly performed rib removal surgery. I can see that you have had a prior tummy tuck….although it does not appear that procedure has been maximized. I see a lot of room for improvement in terms of secondary abdominal and flank liposuction all the way around to the spine and into the back. There appears to still be room for more abdominal skin removal. 

As a general rule I don’t ‘graduate’ to rib removal in waist reduction patients who have not maximized their results with the primary waistline procedures as this does not create good outcomes. Thus I would advise with your body type and current tummy tuck results to have a the mentioned secondary liposuction and tummy tuck procedures through which the left subcostal rib protrusion could be reduced,,,saving you an additional external scar.

Dr Barry Eppley

Indianapolis, Indiana